Hurricanes: How do you Plan, Monitor Weather, and Prep

[370Dancer]

This latest disturbance (Invest 98L, I think I got the label correct) is of concern and bears watching.

Has a strong likely hood of moving into the Gulf and the potential of being a big storm according to some models.

We had previously done our beginning of season prep, but have not done the "storm is approaching" prep. I had a call this morning with our boat caretaker to discuss. As we move into next week we will potentially start storm prep (lines off pilings and to the boat, etc.).

This storm bears watching for those along the Gulf coast.

This morning, we are in the bull's eye, as a Cat 2. That's the best news of the day! Feels like the track will drift East. Wouldn't want to be in the keys regardless.

 

[FootballFan]

This morning, we are in the bull's eye, as a Cat 2. That's the best news of the day! Feels like the track will drift East. Wouldn't want to be in the keys regardless.

The weather service I use was highlighting this last week as a Gulf issue. Over the last couple of days of discussion from them their opinion is the track will shift eastward. Yesterday afternoon they were thinking likely land fall between somewhere north of Tampa to as far south as Naples. I haven't gotten anything this morning, so no idea what has happened over night.

 

[FootballFan]

Thanks for the heads up. We'll keep an eye on it.

Storm surge is a concern for where I store my boat. The park is deep in the mangroves but the water is within 20' of the back of the boat and maybe 5' below it at high tide. People have said that during big surges boats have floated of trailers.

The two impacts are wind and storm surge. I have heard of people with boats on a trailer putting the plug in and filling them with water to weight them down, protection against wind.

Your describing a concern about the storm surge flooding the area. There are factors which impact the amount of surge. Biggest impact is if the surge highest point lines up with high tide, then you can get big events. If you have a constant wind from off shore, it will push more water up against the shore making high tide with the surge even higher.

Sounds like you would need a 7' surge at high tide to float your boat. That would take a pretty big storm, no one knows yet what this storm will look like. If it comes in further south then works its way north it will be weaker getting to you and the predominant wind will be pushing water out, not in. That will help.

Read about Irma 4-5 years ago. Irma moved up on a track like that, it actually emptied out Tampa Bay, people were saying they saw the bottom of the Bay so much water was pushed out.

If you keep a cover on your boat that will be suspect during a wind event.

Give me a call if you want to discuss.

 

[ttmott]

In the thirty years I've been here a storm surge hasn't been the primary issue; even though listening to the commercial weather sources they always talk about huge surges the actuals have been a fraction. Like @FootballFan said above timing has a lot to do with it. Wind and flooding from precipitation have been the issues.
Number 1 - protect your assets from wind and windborne debris.
Number 2 - protect from wind driven water
Number 3 - account for rising water

 

[Pirate Lady]

Different storm from this. Just saw on noon news Fiona is going to hit the Canadian Maritime Providence’s as the strongest hurricane to ever hit that area.

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

I spiderwebbed my 10 Meter behind the house (canal) for 2004 CAT 4 Hurricane Charley.

2 houses on my street were not rebuilt.

The only real boat damage was loss of TV antenna, anchor locker lid and serious damage to the radar arch -had to be removed and rebuilt

Then again at ground zero - IN THE EYE for IRMA 2017 - zero boat damage

In addition to the prep mentioned above and elsewhere on this site TAPE OFF YOUR VENTS fuel & fresh water, engine room if possible.

Wind driven rain is like a pressure washer - you'll fine leaves and debris shoved in every nook and cranny - like around the windshield

One can use blue tape covered up with duct tape to keep it dry (for awhile)

IAN will be my first go at it with the 450 DA - I'm presently dead center of the current track for landfall

Planning to also remove all my electronics as is reasonably possible.

Y'all be safe out there

BEST !

RWS

 

[Blueone]

. Wouldn't want to be in the keys regardless.

Well I am in key west…. Will let you know how it goes

 

[FootballFan]

We have completed all prep in our plan. The causeway to the beach closes at 6pm tonight, so after that no one can get on the island, at least not easily. Doesn't really impact us with the causeway closing, nothing we can do.

We can watch the cameras as long as they stay operational. Our cameras are from the marina and affixed to the docks - so when power goes out they will go.

Made me pause to think I wish we had cameras with some sort of celluar source on the boat. But not sure if the cell towers would have battery back up or power. I expect that the power will be shut off to the island at some point - don't know for sure. Watching at that point is curiosity - nothing that we could change.

Just a waiting game.

One item we keep in perspective is that while we are worried about a boat, there are a ton of people who are worried about their homes. Their potential impact is much more than our impact. We are sitting in Texas, this won't affect our home or workplace. I do worry about our friends (and all) that are in the area and about how this impacts them.

Last week my primary concern was wind, even posted on here about all the conditions that had to line up at the same time for surge to be a concern. Today I am worried about surge. Looks like all those factors have a chance of lining up. I don't think we will see the highest numbers that will come out of the area, but the water will be high if this thing blows towards the shore for 20-30 hours.